For much of the year, the seals are out at sea or on distant sandbanks but, between October and December, they come to breed on the beaches of Lincolnshire.

The first seal pup on the year was born on Friday, October 13, which was the earliest recorded by nine days.

(Image: Gina Rymer)

In 2016, the first seal pup was born on October 24 and in total, Donna Nook saw 1,959 recorded pups born and no less than 72,000 people came to marvel at, photograph or film the beautiful marine mammals action.

Mark Bentley, 47, who visited the reserve a couple of weeks ago, said: “All attention was on the black seal, which I have heard about but had never seen, so to see one close up and manage to photograph was great.”